Paul Simon was a US senator for a number of years (aren't they all). He is a democrat. He was born in China and grew up there for awhile before the 1949 takeover by the communists. Recently he wrote an editorial for a web magazine called Intellectual Capital. You can read the whole article and some comments made by readers here.
Simon is not anti-mainland China by any means. But here he argues that the officials of the Republic of China, notably President Lee Teng Hui and Vice President Lien Chan, ought to be allowed to visit the US any time they want. And their visits should be encouraged and welcome. The ROC is a free democratic country. They should not be marginalized as some sort of pariah regime. They are not despotic or totalitarian. In fact their recent history is quite the opposite and commendable. Simon argues that the US policy with regard to the ROC should be re-evaluated.
Simon titled his piece "A Hard to Believe Story" and begins it like this.
Here is a hard-to-believe story:Later he asks "Why do we have this strange policy? " and answers with the truth: "So that we will not ruffle the feathers of China."The vice-president and premier of a place where there is a multi-party system, free elections and a vibrant economy is being denied the right to enter the United States to attend meetings of the governing board of the University of Chicago, from which he graduated.
Has he committed some criminal act to prevent him from visiting the United States? No.
What has he done wrong? His "mistake" is that he participated in the free elections in Taiwan and the official policy of the United States is to turn a semi-cold shoulder to Taiwan.
He goes on to tell the mainland authorities the reason for his opinion:
China should understand that when we compare the repression of speech in China, to genuinely open discourse in Taiwan, the United States favors freedom; when we compare religious persecution in China with freedom of religion in Taiwan, the United States supports giving people their free choice; when this country compares the rigidly-controlled media of China with the diversity of published and broadcast expression in Taiwan, we are on the side of a free press.In summation he writes:
We should:I have to to thank Paul Simon and give him credit for speaking out in such a straightforward manner and standing up for the truth and what is right.1.Make clear to China that armed action against Taiwan would be met with air and sea resistance from the community of nations. We hope China and Taiwan will settle their differences, but it should not be by force.
2.Maintain trade and cultural relations with China, but not turn a cold shoulder to Taiwan. If Taiwan's President Lee wants to visit the United States, he should be welcome to do so. If Vice President Lien Chan wants to attend a board meeting of the University of Chicago, he can.
To announce that we will welcome China's president and dictator when he comes (and I do not oppose that) but treat Taiwanese officials who are freely elected in a less generous way, sends a message to the world that the United States stands for freedom and democracy -- unless it offends a neighborhood bully.